IGN interviews Chris Benoit - May 2000
Posted by admin admin on Saturday, May 25, 2013
Under: WWF/WWE Interviews
Interview: Chris Benoit
Benoit talks about wrestling, Iron Man matches and some of the differences between the WWF and WCW.
May 26, 2000
IGN Scoops held an internet chat session with Chris Benoit at Pillman Show 2000.
Q: Since making your move to the WWF, have you spoken with Bret Hart? He didn't have a good reaction when his own brother-in-law (Davey Boy Smith) went back, and I was wondering if he had any reaction seeing as the two of you were so close in WCW.
Benoit: I spoke to him a number of times, yeah. Regarding how Bret felt when Davey went back, or how Bret feels about the WWF, that's his business and not for me to talk about. I never involve myself in anyone else's business unless they involve me. That's his own thing to deal with. But when I first went to the WWF I talked to Bret and he was happy for me. He was genuinely happy for me. He said, "I think you'll finally get what you deserve."
Q: What goals do you still have left for yourself in the business?
Benoit: Initially when I first got into this business my goal was to work for Stu Hart. I thought if I ever could wrestle for Stampede that would be it, that would be everything. After that I've surpassed that and gone so many places. I really don't have any goals. What I want to do is continually contribute to the business and when I feel that I'm no longer contributing or I lose my passion, it'll be time to hang up my boots.
Q: What were your emotions and thoughts during that first 8-man match at RAW in Dallas?
Benoit: It was great. That kind of reaction from the people in Dallas that night…they're just few and far between. When you can manipulate that kind of reaction, that kind of emotion from a crowd it's very rewarding. It's part of the payoff for all the time we spend in the car and on the plane, all the hotels, all the hotel food, all the late nights driving. That's payoff.
Q: What would be your dream match at this point?
Benoit: It'd be hard to say. What I enjoy so much about this business is the challenges in facing someone like Rikishi who is a huge man and works a big style while being incredibly agile for his size, and the next night you're in there with Hardcore Holly and the next night with Eddy Guerrero. Making that transition from style to style is very challenging and very rewarding. To walk out of there and feel like you had a good match. That's what I love about this business.
Q: I was just wondering if you would have stayed in WCW, how long would you think that they would have kept the WCW World Title around your waist? And what are your thoughts on where the direction of that Title belt has gone now?
Benoit: I don't really consider the "if" realm. You know? "If the world was flat", I don't really go there. As far as the WCW title, I don't watch their product.
Q: How does it feel to be working the same show as some of your former WCW co-workers, especially Shane Douglas? With your current WWF success, do you feel any animosity or resentment for jumping feds from any current WCW stars?
Benoit: No, not at all. In this business you'll spend a lot of time with a certain person on the road. A year or two, and then suddenly you're in a different federation and you won't see them for four years. But you always keep that friendship, you always have that bond. I feel absolutely no resentment from anyone. If anything my friends I have now and friends I've worked with before are very happy for me.
Q: Talking with Shawn Michaels the other week about "Iron Man" matches, he mentioned that Bret Hart was one of the only people in the WWF he could face in such a match because you weren't in the organization. Who would you like to face in that sort of match given the chance?
Benoit: First off that's a tremendous compliment coming from one of the greatest wrestlers that ever stepped into the ring. Right now there are so many guys that I'd love to do it with. There are so many who could do it. Right now there's Dean or Eddy, or Perry. There are so many guys that I have so much respect for and their abilities. It's unbelievable. I mean Hunter…I'd never really watched that much WWF while I worked in WCW. I really got turned off, lost my passion for wrestling and stopped watching altogether. I've become a fan again having started with the WWF. Hunter Hearst Helmsley really impresses me. His ability, his character in the ring, the mannerisms, his confidence, he's definitely made an impression on me, so he's up there too.
Q: Chris, now that it seems that Hardcore Holly, you, and Jericho have moved into the Intercontinental title mix, is a much deserved jump to the World Title ranks in the works for you and Jericho?
Benoit: I really don't think about things like that. I've got to focus on what I'm doing right now, which is involving the Intercontinental belt. A lot of people ask if it's my stepping stone to the world title, but I'm just focused on the Intercontinental belt right now.
Q: How has the transition been from WCW to the WWF?
Benoit: Night and day, you can't compare. I just went from being pretty miserable to extremely happy.
Q: I've noticed a big change in your style on the mic in WWF, and it's great! Is this something you've been working on, or is it because you are allowed to be more expressive and show more character in WWF as opposed to WCW? Maybe a little of both? Keep it up, you're awesome!
Benoit: They're just giving me more opportunity and showing more confidence in me behind the mic. It's just like learning wrestling. When you first start training your teacher needs to show confidence in you and your ability in order to gain confidence in yourself. The WWF has given me not only more opportunity but shown confidence which has made a difference. I feel a lot more confident behind the mic right now than I ever have.
Benoit talks about wrestling, Iron Man matches and some of the differences between the WWF and WCW.
May 26, 2000
IGN Scoops held an internet chat session with Chris Benoit at Pillman Show 2000.
Q: Since making your move to the WWF, have you spoken with Bret Hart? He didn't have a good reaction when his own brother-in-law (Davey Boy Smith) went back, and I was wondering if he had any reaction seeing as the two of you were so close in WCW.
Benoit: I spoke to him a number of times, yeah. Regarding how Bret felt when Davey went back, or how Bret feels about the WWF, that's his business and not for me to talk about. I never involve myself in anyone else's business unless they involve me. That's his own thing to deal with. But when I first went to the WWF I talked to Bret and he was happy for me. He was genuinely happy for me. He said, "I think you'll finally get what you deserve."
Q: What goals do you still have left for yourself in the business?
Benoit: Initially when I first got into this business my goal was to work for Stu Hart. I thought if I ever could wrestle for Stampede that would be it, that would be everything. After that I've surpassed that and gone so many places. I really don't have any goals. What I want to do is continually contribute to the business and when I feel that I'm no longer contributing or I lose my passion, it'll be time to hang up my boots.
Q: What were your emotions and thoughts during that first 8-man match at RAW in Dallas?
Benoit: It was great. That kind of reaction from the people in Dallas that night…they're just few and far between. When you can manipulate that kind of reaction, that kind of emotion from a crowd it's very rewarding. It's part of the payoff for all the time we spend in the car and on the plane, all the hotels, all the hotel food, all the late nights driving. That's payoff.
Q: What would be your dream match at this point?
Benoit: It'd be hard to say. What I enjoy so much about this business is the challenges in facing someone like Rikishi who is a huge man and works a big style while being incredibly agile for his size, and the next night you're in there with Hardcore Holly and the next night with Eddy Guerrero. Making that transition from style to style is very challenging and very rewarding. To walk out of there and feel like you had a good match. That's what I love about this business.
Q: I was just wondering if you would have stayed in WCW, how long would you think that they would have kept the WCW World Title around your waist? And what are your thoughts on where the direction of that Title belt has gone now?
Benoit: I don't really consider the "if" realm. You know? "If the world was flat", I don't really go there. As far as the WCW title, I don't watch their product.
Q: How does it feel to be working the same show as some of your former WCW co-workers, especially Shane Douglas? With your current WWF success, do you feel any animosity or resentment for jumping feds from any current WCW stars?
Benoit: No, not at all. In this business you'll spend a lot of time with a certain person on the road. A year or two, and then suddenly you're in a different federation and you won't see them for four years. But you always keep that friendship, you always have that bond. I feel absolutely no resentment from anyone. If anything my friends I have now and friends I've worked with before are very happy for me.
Q: Talking with Shawn Michaels the other week about "Iron Man" matches, he mentioned that Bret Hart was one of the only people in the WWF he could face in such a match because you weren't in the organization. Who would you like to face in that sort of match given the chance?
Benoit: First off that's a tremendous compliment coming from one of the greatest wrestlers that ever stepped into the ring. Right now there are so many guys that I'd love to do it with. There are so many who could do it. Right now there's Dean or Eddy, or Perry. There are so many guys that I have so much respect for and their abilities. It's unbelievable. I mean Hunter…I'd never really watched that much WWF while I worked in WCW. I really got turned off, lost my passion for wrestling and stopped watching altogether. I've become a fan again having started with the WWF. Hunter Hearst Helmsley really impresses me. His ability, his character in the ring, the mannerisms, his confidence, he's definitely made an impression on me, so he's up there too.
Q: Chris, now that it seems that Hardcore Holly, you, and Jericho have moved into the Intercontinental title mix, is a much deserved jump to the World Title ranks in the works for you and Jericho?
Benoit: I really don't think about things like that. I've got to focus on what I'm doing right now, which is involving the Intercontinental belt. A lot of people ask if it's my stepping stone to the world title, but I'm just focused on the Intercontinental belt right now.
Q: How has the transition been from WCW to the WWF?
Benoit: Night and day, you can't compare. I just went from being pretty miserable to extremely happy.
Q: I've noticed a big change in your style on the mic in WWF, and it's great! Is this something you've been working on, or is it because you are allowed to be more expressive and show more character in WWF as opposed to WCW? Maybe a little of both? Keep it up, you're awesome!
Benoit: They're just giving me more opportunity and showing more confidence in me behind the mic. It's just like learning wrestling. When you first start training your teacher needs to show confidence in you and your ability in order to gain confidence in yourself. The WWF has given me not only more opportunity but shown confidence which has made a difference. I feel a lot more confident behind the mic right now than I ever have.
In : WWF/WWE Interviews